Method for operating with an automated teller machine

Abstract

The present invention provides a computer-implemented method for operating with an Automated Teller Machine by means of a portable communications device of a user, wherein the ATM is configured to send instructions to the application of the portable communications device in order to be followed by the user, and through the communication channel.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A computer-implemented method for operating with an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) by means of a portable communications device of a user, wherein
 the ATM is configured to communicate with a server host,   the portable communications device is configured to send at least one instruction to the user and to store and run at least one application, and   the at least one application is configured to communicate the portable communications device with the server host,   the method comprising the steps of:
 a) posting by the application of the portable communications device an operation request to a database of the server host, wherein such operation request remains pending; 
 b) detecting by the ATM a personal identifying item of the user, 
 c) authenticating the user, 
 d) checking by the ATM whether there is a pending operation request associated to the user in the database of the server host; wherein: 
 if an operation request associated to the user is pending: 
 d1) establishing a communication channel between the ATM and the portable communications device; 
 d2) sending by the ATM to the application of the portable communications device and through the communication channel, at least one instruction to be followed by the user as follows:
 d2.1) sending by the ATM the at least one instruction, such instruction being stored in an In-Memory Database, IMDB, as a codified digital information, and 
 d2.2) requesting by the portable communications device the codified digital information posted in the In-Memory Database; and 
 
 if the ATM recognizes that at least one instruction has been executed, then 
 d3) performing by the ATM the operation requested. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the communication channel established in step d1) between the ATM and the portable communications device is through at least one Application Program Interface (API). 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the requesting in step d2.2) is performed continuously in a “busy-wait polling” process, that is a process through which the portable communication device constantly inquiries the In-Memory Database for checking whether a codified digital information is posted, and synchronized with the posting of codified digital information. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , the portable communications device being configured to reproduce text-to-speech instructions and wherein step d2) further comprises:
 receiving at least one text-to-speech instruction by the portable communications device, and   reproducing audibly the at least one text-to-speech instruction by the portable communications device.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein at least one instruction sent by the ATM to the portable communication device is deleted after a period of time is elapsed and/or in case the instruction is not sent to the portable communication device in said period of time. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the step d2) further comprises the following steps in order to delete at least one instruction posted in the In-Memory Database by the ATM:
 determining the length of a message to be communicated to the user as an instruction,   relating such length of the message with a period of validity thereof, and   deleting the instruction posted in the In-Memory Database and related to such message upon its period of validity expires.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the length of the message to be communicated to the user is determined by a number of letters of the instruction. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the codified digital information posted in the In-Memory Database is requested periodically by the portable communications device within the period of validity of the message related to such instruction. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the personal identifying item of the user detected in step b) by the ATM is at least one of the following:
 personal ATM card,   the application hosted in the portable communications device, or   a combination of the above personal identifying items.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the authentication of the user performed in step c) comprises any of the following types:
 typing a personal identification number, PIN, on a PIN pad of the ATM, and/or   typing a personal identification number on a screen or keyboard of the portable communications device, and/or   introducing biometric information, preferably scanning a fingerprint.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein a display of the ATM and/or a screen of the portable communications device is configured to switch its lay-out and colours to a particular lay-out and colours according to a pre-established requirements of the user. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises between steps a) and b), the step of:
 indicating by the application of the portable communications device the geolocation of ATMs and the geolocation of the portable communications device itself,   selecting a particular ATM where the financial transaction is to be performed, and   calculating the route according to the geolocation of the selected ATM and the portable communications device itself, and   optionally reproducing audibly the route by the portable communications device.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein step d2) further comprises that the ATM and the portable communications device comprise means to communicate by personal area networks such as Bluetooth. 
     
     
         28 . A data processing system comprising means for carrying out the steps of the method of  claim 15 .